Chapter 2284: The Great Battle Concludes

Outside the city, the battle had reached a pause, but inside the city, fierce combat raged on, with Netherworld masters locked in intense duels. On the battlefield dominated by Ghost-level Apostles, Yang Xiao led the team in relentless assaults, determined to annihilate the enemy’s remaining forces completely.

However, the remaining enemies were relying on a few Half-step Nether Realm fighters for their desperate resistance, making it difficult for Yang Xiao’s team to break through completely.

Wiping the blood splatter from his face, Yang Xiao paused, breathing slightly. The intense fight against the Master of Ruyi Sect had worn him down; his spiritual power was severely depleted, and even with two elixirs from the Esoteric Sect, he was too weak to fight effectively.

He looked towards the battlefield of Netherworld masters, where Mo Qing and Gu Ji from Bone Painting Tower were evenly matched, unable to defeat one another.

Liuhanzheng from the Southern Border Liu Family had injured his opponent multiple times. If he hadn’t refrained from killing, his opponent would already have fallen. That mysterious Apostle with curse techniques was a fierce individual, refusing to retreat despite being covered in wounds.

The decisive factor lay with Dean Sheng, who did not disappoint, launching a full assault that single-handedly suppressed Song Canghai and Sheng Jingxuan, holding his ground against two opponents without losing an edge.

Song Canghai and Sheng Jingxuan were visibly struggling, while Sheng Yanlin fought on with increasing vigor, seeming to still have power to spare.

Watching for a moment, Yang Xiao noticed Sheng Yanlin’s advantage wasn’t solely due to overwhelming strength; his success came from skill and strategy. These two were from Yiling Academy, and Yang Xiao knew their styles and capabilities inside out, making him well-prepared for battle.

However, their understanding of Sheng Yanlin was too limited since all his magic artifacts had been replaced. That new, unfamiliar Resentful Eye in the form of a Wisdom Stick had very rare abilities, leaving the duo disoriented.

Yet Song Canghai and Sheng Jingxuan were no easy foes; they quickly altered their tactics, with Song Canghai attacking at close range and Sheng Jingxuan sneaking in shadowy attacks.

Sheng Yanlin was held captive by the Dharma Sect for ten years, during which his body suffered greatly. Although he received a year of recovery from the Esoteric Sect and consumed many good elixirs, he hadn’t fully recovered. He could spar closely with Song Canghai for a short while, but prolonged combat was taxing.

Song Canghai indeed had skill; Yang Xiao watched him lightly flick his sword, causing countless streams of water to shoot out in midair like arrows aimed at Sheng Yanlin.

At the same time, Sheng Jingxuan seized the opportunity, shaking his oversized brush to draw in midair. The next moment, Yang Xiao was shocked to see Dean Sheng pause as a shackle materialized around his right ankle.

“Divine Brush Ma Liang?” Even the well-versed Yang Xiao was momentarily stunned by such a remarkable feat of creation from thin air.

He desired that brush, not to mention Sheng Jingxuan’s ruthlessness in betraying his brothers for selfish gain. Such a vile man deserved death to calm public anger, and Yang Xiao longed to personally eliminate him for justice.

But it was just a thought, as in his current state, rushing in would lead to certain defeat.

Seeing Sheng Yanlin restrained, a cold glint flashed in Song Canghai’s eyes as he advanced, cutting downward with his sword which Sheng Yanlin blocked with his Wisdom Stick. Song swiftly changed his sword moves, striking up with an insidious thrust, but Sheng Yanlin was prepared, blocking with his stick to fend off the sneak attack.

Yet, as the Wisdom Stick blocked the sword moves, the Ancient Sword seemed to come alive, slithering like a serpent toward Sheng Yanlin’s lower body.

This move was undeniably vicious, but Sheng Yanlin twisted his body oddly at the last moment to narrowly evade the strike, with only his clothing getting torn. His Wisdom Stick then deflected the sword thrust upward, and without waiting for a response, he rapidly swung out over a dozen strikes.

At this instant, Yang Xiao’s pupils constricted sharply, the speed was too fast for his eyes to see anything but afterimages.

In less than half a second, Sheng Yanlin swung more than a dozen times, maybe even more, with each move different—some aimed high, some low, some at the head, neck, heart, and even below.

The sensation wasn’t of a single person attacking; it was as if Sheng Yanlin had split into dozens of selves, all striking simultaneously.

A normal person might not survive let alone come away unscathed, but Song Canghai was a seasoned martial artist and remained calm amid such peril, twisting his wrist to anoint a sword rain almost instantaneously.

The sword rain formed a defensive shield enveloping Song Canghai completely, but Sheng Yanlin was faster.

The sword rain blocked most attacks, yet a few strikes landed heavily on Song Canghai, the master second only to Sheng Yanlin, forcing him to retreat in disarray.

Taking advantage, Sheng Yanlin leapt forward, his figure so quick it appeared a mere blur, poised to smash in Song Canghai’s head with his stick.

But the shackles on his ankle slowed his pace, and Song Canghai didn’t resign to fate, rapidly retreating and flicking his other sleeve, launching something.

The speed of the projectile was incredible; barely had Yang Xiao seen it before it flew in front of Sheng Yanlin.